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Midterm Grades - Future OOP Applicant Seeking Advice


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Littlemug
  • Law Student
Posted (edited)

Hi all,

Currently a 1L at a university in the prairies (Robson Hall). Would ultimately like to secure a 2L job and/or articling in Vancouver or Calgary doing something corporate. I just received my midterm grades and they are all B's (20%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 40%). For context, a B grade is the average for my school. I have scheduled meetings with all my professors to go over feedback and will schedule more office hours to continue to improve my exam writing skills. I plan to tailor each exam answer I write based on each professor's preference.

I realized too late that I do not want to live in Winnipeg, so I am really feeling the pressure to score as best as possible in order to move out. I appreciate all insight and advice, thanks in advance everyone!

Edited by Littlemug
Renerik
  • Law Student
Posted

Straight Bs from UMan are not competitive for the 1 or 2L recruits in Calgary or Vancouver. Shoot your shot anyways. 

Work harder/smarter to get better grades by the end of 1L. Meeting with your profs is the right move. My grades improved after I realized I was doing too much low yield work and not enough of the high yield stuff.

Re: Calgary, firms have a preference for people who have some connection with the city/province. They don't like people using Calgary as a stepping stone to Vancouver or Toronto. Going to UMan for law school only to want out within a few months is something you should be ready to address during interviews.

  • Like 1
Eatable Bran
  • Law Student
Posted

You’re not too late to throw your hat into the ring for the Calgary 1L recruit - I believe applications close January 29. Might be worth considering! Worst case,  you get your feet wet with the recruit process. Best case, you get a 1L job and secure articles! 

  • Like 1
Littlemug
  • Law Student
Posted
9 hours ago, Renerik said:

Straight Bs from UMan are not competitive for the 1 or 2L recruits in Calgary or Vancouver. Shoot your shot anyways. 

Work harder/smarter to get better grades by the end of 1L. Meeting with your profs is the right move. My grades improved after I realized I was doing too much low yield work and not enough of the high yield stuff.

Re: Calgary, firms have a preference for people who have some connection with the city/province. They don't like people using Calgary as a stepping stone to Vancouver or Toronto. Going to UMan for law school only to want out within a few months is something you should be ready to address during interviews.

Thanks for the reply, it really puts into perspective how much work I need to put in this term. Do you have an estimate on what average would be competitive for those cities? I think with lots of effort, I can pull my grades up to a B+ average with an A in maybe one or two classes. I'm pretty much out of the running from 1L recruit but I'd like score a competitive average for 2L recruit.

Spinnaker
  • Law Student
Posted

I'm just a 1L student as well, so take my answer with a grain of salt - from talking to upper years/associates, I think a B+ average should certainly get you interviews for the 2L recruit. A B+ average is what I hope to get/maintain throughout 1L. 

It might help, especially for a Vancouver or Calgary job, to have a reasonable connection to each city that you can speak to.

  • Like 1
Forever Curious
  • Law Student
Posted
On 1/23/2025 at 3:44 AM, Spinnaker said:

It might help, especially for a Vancouver or Calgary job, to have a reasonable connection to each city that you can speak to.

I actually think it would be very hard to get an interview if you didn't at the very least have a sentence or two about it in your application. I would make it a point to address it in an interview as well at some point.

  • Like 1
Renerik
  • Law Student
Posted
On 1/21/2025 at 8:36 PM, Littlemug said:

Do you have an estimate on what average would be competitive for those cities?

From UMan? Unsure. If I had to guess for the 2L recruit, probably a B+ for Calgary and an A- for Vancouver.

  • Like 1

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